Don't dare risk Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli’s Manchester City future is now hanging in the balance

His team-mates are genuinely concerned about the Manchester derby, not because of the damage United can do but the damage Balotelli can do if he repeats the antics we saw at Arsenal.

A source

Members of Roberto Mancini’s squad fear a Balotelli backlash could ruin their chances of landing the title.

Balotelli is serving a three-match ban for his red card at Arsenal but will be available again for the United visit on April 30. But Mancini’s players reckon Balotelli is a liability and could do something stupid that would hand the title to United.

They fear the controver- sial striker won’t be able to handle the pressure of the biggest game of the season and are desperate for him to be left out.

Since Balotelli’s ban, the Blues have romped to two straight wins to keep alive their slim title hopes.

A source told Starsport: “He is never going to be a team player.

“His team-mates are genuinely concerned about the Manchester derby, not because of the damage United can do but the damage Balotelli can do if he repeats the antics we saw at Arsenal.

“Everyone has been more comfortable in his absence.”

Most of Mancini’s squad want Balotelli to be sold in the summer. AC Milan are keen to offer him an escape route back to Italy in a cut-price £12m deal.

Balotelli’s Blues future is now hanging in the balance following a string of problems on and off the pitch.

Mancini has run out of patience with the Italian striker and is willing to sell him this summer to the highest bidder.

Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri is a big fan and reckons his return would help the star grow up and fulfil his potential.

But the Serie A giants would want to land Balotelli on the cheap and have told City to forget about recouping more than half of the £24m they shelled out to sign him from Inter Milan in 2010.